Slade left the room, his posture meek and humble. As soon as he shut the door behind him, the mask of fear and gratitude evaporated.
In its place was a cold, calculating calm, and a barely perceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
He had won.
Not only had he dispelled One-Eyed Wolf's suspicions about the wizard test, but he had also cemented his image as someone "greedy for small gains and lacking ambition," lowering the leader's guard.
Once back in his luxurious room, Slade locked the door behind him and gazed out at the dim moonlight. A smile, tinged with mockery, bloomed on his face.
One-Eyed Wolf thought he could control him with a few petty rewards and false "trust"? How laughable.
A dark wizard? Material for experiments? A near-death experience?
So what! At least he had the qualifications to climb to the top!
Staying with the Bloodhand Gang meant being shackled forever as an "abacus snake", a mere cog in the system, vulnerable to being crushed at any moment by the "knights" or "wizards" that held power.
Or, like Ghost Fox, he could lose his usefulness and be eliminated by One-Eyed Wolf when his value was gone.
But the path of the wizard, dark and dangerous though it was, represented the possibility of breaking free, of taking control of his own destiny!
Slade knew he had to seize this chance.
He fingered the heavy little cloth bag tucked into his arms, feeling the weight of his savings, twenty gold coins in total.
This was enough to cover the test fee and, if things went wrong, enough for his escape.
Two days later, the moment of destiny would come.
…
On the first day of the talent test, Slade went about his usual routine, purchasing goods and reviewing various business projects, his demeanor unchanged.
Meanwhile, the city lord's mansion was abuzz with activity. A crowd of teenagers, some barely ten years old, others who had failed last year's test but were determined to try again, swarmed into the mansion, eager to take the test.
Most were dressed well, or at least had clean, tidy clothes. After all, anyone who could afford the test fee of one gold coin had a bit of wealth. It wasn't until nightfall that the city lord's mansion began to quiet down.
Slade didn't inquire about the first day's test from anyone, not even his most trusted little beggar.
At moments like these, staying calm was crucial.
On the second day of the test, Slade's routine remained unchanged, showing no signs of worry or excitement. But as evening approached, and he passed the Nightingale Brothel, a glimmer of curiosity flashed across his face.
"Brother Monkey, is this place really as wonderful as Vasa described?"
Vasa, the head of the gang's casino, always invited Slade to relax at the Nightingale Brothel whenever he came by to check the accounts.
Of course, Slade had always declined.
He was still young and couldn't handle such "intense combat" just yet.
Skinny Monkey's face broke into a knowing grin. "You've finally seen the light! This place is the best. Every man dreams of it."
Slade's curiosity only deepened. He eyed the entrance, his interest piqued.
As he approached, the women at the door greeted him warmly.
"Oh my, Monkey Master, it's been a while! Maggie's been talking about you every day!"
Skinny Monkey's throat tightened as he was greeted by the women's flirtatious voices. He hadn't had any personal time since being assigned to monitor Slade, and now, with his frustration mounting, the attention from the women immediately stirred him.
One of the women, noticing Slade's handsome face, suddenly brightened.
"This must be the famous 'Abacus Snake,' right? I've heard so much about you! Let's see if your 'snake' really lives up to the title!"
Slade was caught off guard by her boldness.
"So forward? Right here in the street?" he thought, momentarily stunned.
As the woman's hand drew nearer, Slade quickly pretended to be embarrassed, hastily backing away.
Skinny Monkey, seeing the situation unfold, reluctantly waved goodbye to the women and hunched over, chasing after Slade.
Who knew when he would return?
Slade glanced back at Skinny Monkey's hunched figure, a sense of reassurance settling over him.
This little monkey was no match for his schemes.
The next day marked the final day of the talent test. After the excitement of the past two days, the city lord's mansion was notably quieter.
Everyone from the city had already been tested, and those who had traveled from farther were now arriving, one by one.
Slade, accompanied by Skinny Monkey, spent the day casually inspecting various industries and purchasing necessary supplies.
In the afternoon, the two made their usual stop at the casino under Vasa's jurisdiction, preparing for the routine audit.
Vasa's hospitality was impeccable. After escorting them to the accounting room, he personally served them tea and water.
Logically, someone of his status shouldn't have been so attentive to "Abacus Snake," but everyone knew perfectly well how Ghost Fox, the gang's former deputy leader, had met his end.
The young boy before him now occupied the vice-leader's former room.
If he weren't so young, the gang leader would likely have already promoted this "god of wealth" to vice-leader.
As it stood, it seemed only a matter of time before that happened.
Thus, Vasa dared not treat Slade with anything but the utmost respect. The casino's accounts were kept in perfect order, without a single mistake.
After reviewing the recent accounts, Slade nodded in approval.
"Brother Vasa, you truly live up to your reputation as the leader's most capable lieutenant. You've managed this casino expertly, and the accounts are flawless."
Vasa chuckled, his chubby hand adorned with colorful rings stroking his bald head.
"Not at all! It's all thanks to the kindness of all the brothers. With this position, I can only do my best and can't afford to slack off."
Slade couldn't help but sigh with gratitude.
"If only the other brothers in the gang were as responsible as you, Brother Vasa, I wouldn't be running around so much every day."
"I've noticed your contributions, and I'll be sure to report your recent achievements to the gang leader tonight."
At this, Vasa's face lit up with a radiant smile. His gaze toward Slade softened.
"Brother Slade, I'm truly grateful for your kind words. From now on, if you need anything, just let me know. I, Vasa, will be there without hesitation!"
With that, Vasa stepped forward and gave Slade a warm hug.
As they pulled apart, Slade noticed a small money pouch tucked at the small of Vasa's back.
Seeing Slade glance at it, Vasa's smile took on a more knowing, meaningful quality.
Slade was momentarily taken aback.
So subtle...
The pouch wasn't heavy, and it didn't seem to contain much, but Slade was certain that this crafty bald man wasn't trying to fool him with copper or silver coins, it had to be gold coins!
This old man was sharp.
Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey, sitting nearby, had no idea about the exchange between the two. He was sipping tea, legs crossed, his beady eyes constantly darting around the room, observing the maid who was serving them. Find the original chapter at novelping(.)com.
Once their conversation concluded, Slade stood to leave.
"Brother Vasa, we'll be on our way now. We'll visit again in a few days."
Vasa didn't try to stop them, as usual.
"No problem, no problem. You two have worked hard. Why don't you head to the Nightingale Brothel to relax? I heard they've got a new batch of goods..."
Skinny Monkey immediately perked up, his hopeful eyes flicking toward Slade.
He knew Slade would likely decline again, as he had before, but to his surprise, Slade wore a conflicted, tempted expression.
What? Has this kid finally had a change of heart?
Vasa, who had been expecting Slade to refuse, noticed the shift and felt a jolt of excitement.
"Brother Slade, you've turned me down so many times before. You can't refuse this time! You'll be disrespecting your older brother if you do."
Vasa pretended to be angry, then, without waiting for Slade's response, called over a henchman.
"Hyena, take these two brothers to the Nightingale Brothel to relax. All expenses are on my tab. Tell the matron to take good care of them!"
After giving the instructions, Vasa turned to Slade with an apologetic smile.
"Brother, I must keep an eye on things here, so I can't join you. But if you need anything, just let Hyena know."
Slade continued to look hesitant, seemingly torn over his decision.
Skinny Monkey, standing nearby, was so eager that he scratched his head and nudged Slade's back with his elbow, silently urging him to agree.
This was free, after all!
Slade sighed, feigning reluctance. "Well, since Brother Vasa has given the order... I suppose I'll go have some tea and rest..."
Vasa laughed heartily, clearly pleased.
"That's a good brother! I'll take you two to the most famous 'Heaven on Earth' in Black Swamp City sometime!"
Upon hearing this, Skinny Monkey's eyes practically popped out of his head, and he swallowed hard.
Wait, what? Me, Skinny Monkey, getting a chance to enjoy 'Heaven on Earth'?
Who says this job is tough? This is the best gig ever!
In my next life, I'd still want to work with "Abacus Snake!"
Looking at Skinny Monkey's excited, almost childish reaction, Slade couldn't help but feel a great weight lift off his shoulders.
He'd finally hooked him.
The two followed the hyena to the Nightingale Brothel. It was still daytime, so there weren't many customers around.
The women they'd met the night before were lounging by the door, casually chatting and munching on sunflower seeds.
As soon as they saw the hyena leading Slade and Skinny Monkey, they sprang into action, straightening their clothes and heading toward them.
The older woman at the front practically pounced on the hyena.
The others clung to Slade and Skinny Monkey, their bodies practically melding with theirs.
"Oh my gosh~ It's like the sun's risen in the west today! Master Slade, Master Monkey, Master Dog, what rare guests! Come on in, come on in!"
"Sisters, come out and greet our guests~"
A sweet, almost syrupy voice floated out from inside the Brothel.
"Coming~"
Inside, the lights were bright, the air thick with perfume, and a lively, welcoming atmosphere filled the space.